city centre development – tampere tulli (finland)

What outstanding skills you have! With the help of local expertise you have devised new solutions and then conveyed these ideas by using good precedents, drawings and words. We got so much more than we expected! Olli Niemi, Director of University Properties Finnland

A two stage charrette process was held with 36 stakeholders, in order to develop a new framework plan for the inner city area of TULLI, which historically was the former railway customs district. Tampere is the second largest conurbation in Finland. It has become a magnet for the wider region with a significant growth in the number of people, jobs and services. TULLI is therefore facing major change. From being a purely commercial area at the moment, it it likely in the future to become a vibrant mixed-use quarter with additional residential and cultural offers. TULLI is also extremely well connected. It is linked to Scandinavia’s largest multipurpose Events Hall in the east, to a major University Campus in the South and to the main railway station in the west. TULLI has the potential to become a new, high quality, colourful and exciting district: a landmark for Tampere City as well as Finland.
The charrette process included two workshops which were run by an external team of facilitators. Major players representing various planning authorities, national railway agencies and local and cultural businesses worked together for the first time to develop a mutually shared “Vision for TULLI”, which will be adopted as a framework plan for future development decisions, design competitions and other initiatives that can unlock potential and enhance the area. The charrette process led to the creation of a TULLI-Team who will promote the TULLI district, support key projects and make change happen.